Air India Crew members detained in Saudi Arabia over permit

The crew members of the Air India Flight 931 were returning to their hotel after having dinner when their taxi was intercepted by Saudi police for a routine permit checking. Despite showing a copy of immigration and valid Air India IDs, they were put in the police vans and told not to use their cell phones.

The crew members and the air hostess were detained as copies of permits are no longer valid in Jeddah. Three hours later, an Arab hotel staffer came and explained to the police officials the identity of the Air India Crew, following which they were released.

The police station manager said that the amnesty period is over in Saudi and that the government is “throwing out” illegal immigrants.